Diaz says he doesn't think he can support Smith

Sen. Ruben Diaz has written an open letter to his constituents, responding to “the negative campaign
some special interests have begun in my community,” referencing the campaign by a number of pro-Senate Democrat backers (the Working Families Party, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Unite-HERE/ New York Hotel Trades Council, SEIU 32BJ, NARAL Pro-Choice, the Empire State Pride Agenda, the Communications Workers of America, and the Tenants PAC) to pressure the so-called “Gang of Three” back into the fold. For a sample of their efforts, click here.

Diaz said that the campaign to pressure him to support Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith isn’t going to work on him.

“They’re going to learn that I don’t bend under pressure,” said Diaz. “I assure you that they are hurting Sen. Malcolm Smith. They are going to find out that it is going to backfire on them.”

When asked if he thought that he could support Smith after all that has transpired, Diaz said, “I don’t think so. Let me leave it at that.”

He emphasized that he is only speaking for himself, not for other members of the so-called “Gang” – Sen. Carl Kruger and Senator-elect Pedro Espada.

Diaz said he is also buying advertisements in newspapers, in addition to sending the letters out to constituents.

In the letter, which is paid for by his campaign committee, Diaz writes that he can’t support Gov. David Paterson’s budget proposal because “we cannot continue to balance the budget on the backs of the Hispanic communities, the African-American communities, and the neediest communities of the State.” He adds that he can’t support gay marriage or abortion on demand because “I am a Democrat who believes in the sanctity of life and the sacredness of marriage.”

In bold letters, however, he writes:

“I have always been a Democrat. I am still a Democrat. And I will always be a Democrat.”